ELECTION '98.

North Shore District Remains Hotly Contested Race For Parties

October 22, 1998|By Nancy Ryan, Tribune Staff Writer.

Four years ago, the hottest and most expensive Illinois senate race was in the North Shore's 29th District, where Republicans pulled out all the stops to reclaim it from the late liberal Democrat Grace Mary Stern.

The GOP and Illinois Senate President James "Pate" Philip, who wanted to expand his caucus, succeeded by backing a woman who was pro-abortion rights for this historically Republican district where voters tend to be more liberal on social issues.

But, as she predicted in 1994, the victor, Kathleen Parker of Northbrook, did not turn into an ideological clone of the conservative Philip.

"I'm very independent," said Parker, 55, a former Northfield Township assessor and Regional Transportation Authority Board member. "My record represents the concerns of my district."

To do otherwise surely would have been political suicide for a first-term legislator in a district that's still targeted by the Democrats. The district includes all of Glencoe, Kenilworth, Northfield, Wilmette and Winnetka and parts of Evanston, Highland Park and Wheeling, among others.

Even so, her Democratic opponent, Nancy Alessi, cites records that show Parker has voted with the Republican majority more than 90 percent of the time. "I don't think that's the kind of voting record the district wants its state senator to have," Alessi said.

In her first term, Parker sponsored legislation that speeds up foster adoptions for severely abused children, backed a law that suspends the driver's licenses of deadbeat parents and became an advocate for disability causes.

She also sponsored the state Religious Freedom Restoration Act, pushed a bill that seeks to divide pensions more equitably in divorces and worked to get Northwestern University designated as an Alzheimer's disease research center.

However, Parker lost the endorsement of some abortion-rights groups this year because of her support for the state law, since struck down by the courts, requiring parental notification for minors seeking an abortion. In another vote, Parker voted against a law that would have required parental consent for an abortion.

Alessi, a pro-abortion rights candidate who opposes parental notification, has run largely on her extensive background in education.

A former Chicago public school teacher and college education program director at Barat College in Lake Forest and member of various school task forces, Alessi, 51, considers education her top priority.

She calls for using a portion of the current state budget surplus to finance construction improvements and expansions in school districts and boosting funds for other education programs, such as the salaries of special education teachers.

Citing top-performing schools such as those in the 29th District, Alessi supports allowing those districts to waive state-mandated testing so resources can be concentrated on schools that need more attention.

Alessi said she opposed the recent change in the "single sales factor" that gave a tax advantage to companies with substantial employment, plants and equipment in Illinois, because she said she'd rather see the revenue that would have been collected go to education.

But Parker, who supported the change, said it will translate into more jobs in the state.

Alessi also criticized Parker's support for a $500 tax credit on state income taxes for private and public school expenses.

"To subsidize parents with children in private schools is irresponsible," she said. However, Parker pointed out that the credit can also be used for public school fees and other costs.

Both Parker and Alessi are strong supporters of gun control and campaign finance reform.